In unsurprising news, Squid Game, the number one show on Netflix of all time, has been officially renewed for a second season. We heard from the series’ writer and showrunner, Hwang Dong-hyuk, back in November that he was in the planning process for a second season. Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos, has confirmed that officially. He announced in an Netflix earnings review conference that “The Squid Game universe has just begun.” Here’s more, from People:
Netflix’s hit series Squid Game is officially returning for season 2, Variety reported on Thursday.
Ted Sarandos, the streaming giant’s Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer, announced the return of the Korean survival thriller during Netflix’s fourth-quarter 2021 earnings interview.
When asked if the series would be returning for another season, Sarandos said, “Absolutely. The Squid Game universe has just begun.”
A rep for Netflix did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The announcement probably isn’t too surprising for fans of the series based on statistics alone. Season 2 has been expected since Squid Game became the most-streamed Netflix series to date in October with over 111 million viewers. That skyrocketed Squid Game past the previously most-watched series, Bridgerton, which fell behind by a whopping 29 million viewers.
Squid Game season 1 even ranked in Netflix’s Top 10 in all 94 countries that have the rating system.
That quote the “universe has just begun” suggests there will be at least one spinoff, which is awesome. Bridgerton will have a spinoff featuring Queen Charlotte and The Witcher is getting a prequel spinoff. I’m assuming they’re planning spinoffs for Squid Game too.
I’ve tried watching K-drama thrillers that Netflix tells me are like Squid Game, namely Sweet Home, the post-apocalyptic monster show set in an apartment complex. It was interesting, but it got too complicated for me about midway through the season and I gave up. There’s a demon show called Hellbound that I just could not get into at all. I highly recommend the zombie movie Train to Busan, but it’s no longer available on Netflix unfortunately. The movie #Alive is supposed to be very good, so I know what I’m watching this weekend. Also I watched the first season of Kingdom, an historical Korean zombie series. I loved it but couldn’t stick with the second season, probably because it came out early in the pandemic. There is a new teen zombie series coming next week called All of Us Are Dead which looks promising. They’re hyping it as the next Squid Game, but I doubt anything could live up to that.
Following the success of Squid Game, Netflix acquired some of director Hwang Dong-hyuk’s other films. They now have Miss Granny, a drama/comedy which I highly recommend. The writing is incredible and it made me laugh out loud a few times.
Photos credit: Noh Juhan for Netflix
Looking forward to the second season, especially now that Netflix cancelled Gentefied 😩. Seriously WTF Netflix?
Also I hope they do a better job with the pacing and relationship development in the prequel to The Witcher. I love the acting on The Witcher, but the writing doesn’t do the characters and story justice.
I mostly liked the second season of Witcher ( I wasn’t sure the actress could pull of Ciri as badass like in the game but I think she did a pretty good job) but can I just vent the sheer number of F-bombs was distracting, it was like later GOT. You get ONE per episode writers!! One max!
I will forever hear Pete Davidson crooning “why did I play the squid game?” (I’m sorry but he’s really talented and I would if given the chance.)
@Bettyrose Me too on both points.
I’m glad to hear this but if I’m being honest, The Silent Sea was better. Still psyched for more Squid though.
Ooh I haven’t heard of this I will check it out!
It’s really compelling, especially if you’re into space shit.
The Silent Sea was awful, I thought. I mean, it had the premise and the atmosphere, but so so many plot holes and a ridiculous ending that made me feel like I wasted my time watching it. I also thought that the acting was pretty awful – which is a criticism I read about the Squid Game as well, but I did not feel so myself. It also completely lacked the rich social commentary that The Squid Game had. I feel like they just don’t compare at all, apart from being Korean.
There isn’t really an “ending”..? It was left open so that they can continue the series if it’s popular. IMO it was a much better season finale than the last episode of Squid Games, which was the weakest ep of the bunch.
And I honestly don’t see how you could watch that show and miss the social commentary unless you were actively trying to, which takes effort. Like, the entire storyline is about the unavailability of earth’s most precious resource (water) and the class warfare that results from that situation.
Netflix made me get hooked on Alice in Borderland after squid Games. It also made me watch the horrifying ThePlatform movie. I still cringe when I think of it.
Yes to Alice in Borderland!!